Eurasian nuthatch
Sitta europaea
Sittidae
| Other names | |
|---|---|
| Catalan | Pica-soques blau |
| Spanish | Trepador azul |
| English | Eurasian nuthatch |
| French | Sittelle torchepot |
| Basque | Garrapo |
| Galician | Gabeador azul |
Description
Small compact passerine with a large head and a long-pointed bill. It is about 14 cm long. Its dorsal plumage is bluish grey, and the belly is light brown with reddish tones on the sides. It has a black stripe running from the bill to each side of the neck. The wings are grey with a whitish throat. The legs are short, yellowish brown and the toes have strong nails. It is specialized in climbing trees. The tail is short and bluish grey. It lives in mature deciduous or mixed forests with a certain humidity, in medium and high mountains above 700 meters of altitude. It feeds on insects and seeds.
It nests in holes found in tree trunks and in cracks within rocks or stone walls. It has the habit of covering the hole with mud, leaving just enough space to pass through. It fills the nest with bits of bark and dry leaves. The female lays 6-9 white eggs with brown dots and incubates them for 14 days. The chicks begin to fly after 24 days.